"Oh, very; but--I don't know. I am afraid it would hardly do to suggest it. You see father has already been asked twice to let us stay on, and, dear Leo, he has been _very_ good about it. Even Aunt Charlotte was surprised."
"It was Aunt Charlotte who did the trick though;" Leo wagged her head wisely. "Her sending him a card for her reception was a masterpiece. I almost wonder he didn't come up for it. Well, what about Cowes?"
Her orders were that Leo was to go nowhere by herself, and she had more than once eaten humble pie in consequence--for her sister's sake hanging on to her skirts, a neglected and undesired appendage by the rest of the party.
Leo alone would be mindful of her, pleasant towards her. Leo was certainly growing more affectionate and considerate than of old--but Leo must not go to Cowes alone.
"I will try what I can do," said Sue, after a pause, during which she absently broke open another envelope in her hand. "I will read what Maud says of how they are getting on at home. I see she has returned from her visit to the Fosters, so perhaps----" An exclamation, quite a violent exclamation for the prim Miss Boldero, followed. Then she looked up, her face, we should like to say scarlet, or crimson, but truth compels the statement that Sue's flushes were of a deeper tint, not quite purple, but that way. Even her brow was now suffused by this tint. "Oh, Leo!"
But Leo was absorbed in a letter of her own.
"Well?" said Leo, absently. "Here's another idea for Cowes. However, your news first."
"Yes, indeed. You will say so when you hear it. Maud----"
"She's not coming here, is she?"--quickly.
"Maud writes to announce that she is engaged to be married."
"Good gracious!" The effect was electrical. Leo bounded from her seat and almost tore the sheet from her sister's hands. "Let me see--let me see," then reading aloud: "Major Foster--Mr. Foster's younger brother--home from India--left the army--father pleased (that's a good thing!)--and coming here next week!--Oh, Sue!----Stop, there's more," cried Leo, recovering, for the "Oh, Sue!" had been emitted with dolorous mental reference to the Cowes scheme, now obviously knocked on the head. "What's this over the page?" and she turned it in Sue's fingers; "only the man's name--Paul. She doesn't say very much, does she? I thought people usually put in something about----"